Coupling and tuning apparatus



March 4 1924.

A. A. KENT coUPLING AND TUNING APPARATUS yFiled Oct. 30 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M M M BY 'LATTORNEY.

A. A. KENT COUPLING AND TUNING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ATTORNEY.

March 4l 1924.

Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR ATWATER KENT, OF AB-DMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUPLING AND TUNING APPARATUS.

Application led October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,778.

T all whom t may concern Be it known that I ARTHUR ATWATER KENT, a citizen of the nited States, residing at Ardmore, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling and Tuning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for coupling and tuning circuits traversed by fluctuating or alternating current, and particularly for coupling circuits traversed by currents or oscillations of audio or radio frequency such as employed in radio and kindred systems.

My invention resides in apparatus of the character utilizable in accordance with the invention of 1V. C. MacFadden described in his ap lication Serial No. 595,024, filed October 1 1922.

In accordance with my invention, there is combined in a practical way with a coil support a variometer structure whose windinrs co-act with the coil on the support- :t is one of the features of my invention that the various parts of 'the apparatus are molded of suitable insulating material, as condensite. bakelite or the like; and it is a, further feature of my invention that one of the stator elements of the variometer is molded inte-gral with the aforesaid coil support.

My invention resides in further features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described vand relating more particularly to the disposition of the mounting or hearings .for the rotor structure, the disposition of connections and the mounting and disposition of a panel and operating dial and handle.

My invention resides in structure of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various forms my invention may take, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same'.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig 1, some parts shown in plan.

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan View, on smaller scale, of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit arrangement in which my apparatus is utilizable.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the base member or primary coil support of insulating material, preferabl molded condensite, bakelite or the like. t is preferably provided at its lower end with the integral flange 2, forming a base for the entire apparatus. At the upper end of the member 1 is provided an inwardly extending flange 3, preferably molded integral with the member 1 and serving as a support for and as means for correlating the vazriometer to the support 1 and the coil carried thereby.

The variometer structure comprises the stator elements 4 and 5 and the rotor elements 6 and 7, all preferably molded of insulating material such as condensite, bakelite or the like. The stator element or support 4 is preferably molded integral with the base member or primary coil support 1, and as indicated, is molded inte-gral with the flange 3 and support 1.

Secured upon the top surface of the circular flange 3 at opposite sides thereof are the horizontally extending metal bearing blocks or members 8 and 9, upon whose upper surfaces are secured the flanges 10 integral with the stator member or support 5. The stator member 5, the bearing blocks 8 and 9, and the base Structure are secured together by the screws 11, extending upwardly through the pads or bosses 12, Fig. 4, preferably molded integral with the base structure 1, through the members 8 and 9 and flanges 10, thepa-rts being drawn firmly together by the nuts 13 threaded upon the up er ends of the screws 11.

he .rotor structure is secured upon and rotated by a shaft comprising the aligned sections 14 and 15, mechanically coupled but insulated from each other by the insulating coupling 16. The rotor members or supports 6 and 7 are secured to each other and clamped to the shaft by the bolts 17 extending through the flanges 18 upon t-he members 6 and 7, each of the members 6 and 7 being closed by an integral end wall 19. The shaft section 14 extends through a hole in the bearing block 8, and is provided with the collar 2O having a conical end bearing in a conical recess communicating with the aforesaid bearing aperture in the block 8.

The shaft section 15 extends through a bear ing hole in the member 9, and has the conical end 21 engaging in the aperture 1n the spring 22 secured at 23 to the block 9 and pressing inwardly against the conical end of the shaft 15.

An o erators knob or handle 24, preferably o moldedvinsulating material, is secured by screw 25 to the shaft 14. Carried by or preferably integral with the knob 24 is the rotatable dial 26, preferably of insulating material, carrying suitable raduations or markings 27 co-acting w1th an index at or upon the boss 28, preferably molded integral with the panel 29, preferablyof molded insulating material, secured by screws 30 to the block 8 and having the aperture 29 through which the shaft 14 extends beyond the coil support 1.

Embedded in, or wound upon the coil support 1 and preferably wound as indicated upon the exterior thereof, is the coil or winding P, whose upper end or terminal extends through the wall of the member 1 and is bound under the binding screw 31 which extends through the flange 3 and is tapped into the bearing block 8, thereby electrically connecting the upper end of the winding P with the block 8 and therefore with the shaft section 14. From the same binding screw 31 extends the conductor 32 disposed within the base member 1 and then extending through the wall thereof at 33 and connecting with a binding post 34 molded in the base flange 2, such binding post serving, if suitable or desirable, for making any suitable or desirable connection, as for example, to earth as hereinafter described. Molded in the flange 2 is any other suitable number of binding posts 35, 36, 37, connected to different taps to the coil or winding P and serving to bring into the antenna, primary or other circuit a ,suitable or desirable number of turns of the winding Disposed upon the rotor sup orts 6 and 7 are the rotor windings R and g1. One terminal of the winding R1 is connected with the shaft section 14 by conductor 38 soldered or otherwise connected t0 the shaft section 14, as at 39. The other terminal of the r0- tor winding R1 is connected at 40 with one terminal of the rotor winding R, whose other terminal is connected to the shaft section 15 by the conductor 41 connected to the shaft section 15 at 42. Accordingly, the rotor windings R and R1 are connected in series with each other and have their terminals, respectively, in the shaft sections 14 and 15, and therefore in the metal bearing blocks 8 and 9.

Disposed upon the inner spherical surfaces of the stator members 4 and 5 are-the stator windings S and S1, whose adjacent terminals are connected to each other at 43. Fig. 4, inside of the base member 1 and be-v tween it and the stator member 4the ends of the conductors of the windings S, S being extended through the flange 3 for that purpose. The other end of the stator winding S is connected by conductor 44 with the 70 binding screw 45, which extends through the flange 3, which is tapped into and connects with the bearing block 9 and therefore with one terminal of the rotor Winding.

The other terminal of the stator` winding S1 connects by conductor 46 with the binding post 47 molded in the boss or lug 48 integral with the stator member 5.

In the example illustrated, therefore, the

stator and rotor windings are in series with,

of the hand or person of the operator, as by touching and operating the knob 24, will not have the effect otherwise occasioned by the capacity of the person of the operator.

In Fig. 5 there is indicated a mode of use of the above described apparatus in ac- 95 coi-dance with the invention disclosed in the aforesaid MacFadden application Ser. No. 595,024. The antenna or other absorption structure A of a radio receiving system is connected to any suitable one of the binding osts 35, 36, 37, that post being chosen whic will bring into circuit between antenna A and earth or other capacity E suitable number of turns of the primary P for effecting tuning 0f the primary circuit 105 to the received energy when the wave length of that energy lies within a suitable range of wave lengths. rIhe binding post 34, that is, the other terminal of the primary P, is

connected to earth or capacity E and also to one terminal of the rotor winding comprising the coils R and R1, or in effect to the shaft section 14. One terminal of the secondary winding of the coupling and tuning transformer described, that is, one terminal of the rotor winding R1, is connected to the filament or cathode f of a thermionic detector having the grid g and the plate 0r anode a., while the other terminal of the secondary winding, that is, one terminal of the stator coil S1, is connected to the grid through the condenser C shunted by the leak resistance r. The filament receives its current from the battery b, the current being variable by the adjustable resistance or rheostat r1. In the plate or anode circuit of the detector or thermionic device V is the relatively higher potential battery B and the telephone T or any other suitable translating instrument or a suitable connection to 1 to the bear- 55 amplifying apparatus of any suitable number of stages.

By rotating the knob 2t the rotor members R and R1 as a unit rotate with respect to the stator melnbers S and S1 and also with respect to the primary P, eli'ecting the variation of coupling and timing between the primary and secondary' circuits as described in said MacFadden application.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising coil supports, one of said supports disposed within the other, one of said supports having a spherical winding surface, and means connecting the inner support at its one end with one end of the outer support.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a unit of molded insulating material comprising ahollow support, a second support disposed within and spaced from said first named support and having a winding surface, the inner support integrally joined at its one end to one end of the outer` support.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hollow support, and a second support disposed within said hollow support and secured thereto, said second support having a winding surface, and a coil support rotatable with respect to said second support.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow substantially cylindrical coil support, of a second coil support having a substantially spherical windingr surface disposed within and spaced from said support, and means connecting said supports to each other at their adjacent ends.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the colnbination with a substantially cylindrical hollow coil support of molded insulatingr material, of a second support having a substantially lspherical winding surface disposed within and molded integral with said support at their adjacent ends.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator coil support, means connecting said supports at their adjacent ends, bearing members upon said support connecting means, and coil structure supported by said bearing members and rotatable with respect to said coil support.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator coil support, means connecting said supports at their adjacent ends, bearing members upon said support connecting means, coil structure supported by said bearing` members and rotatable with respect to said coil supports, and a coil support disposed outside of said first named support.

8. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a hollow coil support.. of a stator coil support, means connecting said supports at ltheir adjacent ends, bearing members upon said support connecting means, coil structure supported by said bearing members and rotatable with respect to said coil supports, and a coil support disposed outside of said first named support and having. flange structure secured to said bearing members.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support of molded insulating material, of a stator coil support disposed within and spaced from said coil support and molded integral therewith at their adjacent ends, bearing members disposed at. the adjacent ends of said coil supports, a second stator coil support disposed outside of said support and means securing said bearing members and said second stator coil support to said irst named supports.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator coil support disposed within and spaced from said support, means connecting said supports at thelr adjacent ends, bearing members upon said support 'connecting means, and coil structure supported by said bearing members and rotatable with respect to said coil supports.

1l. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator coil support disposed within and spaced from said support, means connecting said supports at their adjacent ends, bearing membersupon said support connecting means, coil structure supported by said bea-rino' members and rotatable with respect to said coil supports, and an electrical connection extending from between said coil supports through said connecting means to one of said bearing members.

l2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator' coil support disposed within and spaced from said support, means connecting said supports at their adjacent i ends, bearing members upon said support connecting means, a shaft divided into sections insulated from each other having bearings in said bearing members, rotatable coil structure carried by said shaft sections and having terminals connected, respectively, to said sections, and electrical connections extending from the space between said coil supports through their connecting means to said bearing members.

13.` In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of variometer structure comprising a rotor and stator, a stator member disposed within said coil support and `joined thereto at their adjacent ends, bearing members disposed upon the junction between said stator member and said coil support, a rotor shaft bearing in said members and having an end projecting beyond said coil support, a panel secured to one of said bearing members and having an aperture through which said end of said shaft extends, and an operating handle on said shaft.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a coil support, of a variometer comprising a rotor and a pair of stator members, a fiange joining said coil support and one of said stator members, and rotor bearing members disposed between the second stator member and said flange.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a coil support, of a Variometer comprising a rotor and a pair of stator members, a flange uniting one of said stator members with said coil support, rotor bearing members disposed upon said ange, and means securing the second stator member to said coil support.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a stator winding, a support therefor disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports at their adjacent ends, a rotor winding, a shaft therefor connected thereto, a bearing for said shaft disposed upon said means joining said supports, and a connection from said stator winding extending from within said first named coil support through said means to said bearing.

17. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to eachother, coils upon said supports, rotor coil struct-ure, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft carried by said coil support structure, and a connection from the coil upon said first named coil support to said bearing.

V18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to each other, coils upon said supports, rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft carried by said coil support structure, and an earth connection to said bearing.

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to each other, coils upon said supports, rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft carried by said coil support structure, a connection from the coil upon said first named coil support to said bearing, and an earth connector carried by said first named coil support and connected to said bearing.

20. In apparatus of the'character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joinin said supports to each other, coils upon sai supports, rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor divided into sections insulated from each other, bearings for said shaft sections carried by said coil support structure, a, connection from the coil upon said first named coil support to one of said bearings, and a connection from the coil upon said second named coil support to another of said bearings.

n21.'In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joinin said supports to each other, coils upon sai supports rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor divided into sections insulated from each other, bearings for said shaft sections-carried by said coil support structure, an earth connection to one of said bearings, and a connection from the coil upon said second named coil support to another of said bearin s.

In apparatus of the, character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to each other, coils upon said supports, rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor divided into sect-ions insulated from each other, bearings for said shaft sections carried by said coil support structure, a connection from the coil upon said first named coil support to one of said bearings, an earth connector' carried by said first named coil support and connected to said bearing, and a connection from the coil upon said second named coil support to another of said bearg2s3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to each other, coils upon said supports, rotor` coil structure, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft carried by said coil support structure, and a connection from said coil extending from the space between said coil supports through said means to said bearing.

24. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow coil.

support, of a second coil support disposed within said coil support, means joining said supports to each other, coils upon said supports, rotor coil structure, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft carried by said coil support structure, and a ground connection extending from the space between said coil supports through said means to said bearing.

25. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a coil support and a coil carried thereby, of a second coil support integral with said support, a second port rotatable within said second support.

2T. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hollow coil support, a second hollow coil support disposed within said first support, said second support secured at its one end to one end of said first named support, a third coil support disposed beyond said ends of said first and second supports, and a coil support rotatable within said second and third supports.

28. Apparat-us of the character described comprising a hollow coil support, a. second hollow coil support disposed Within said first support, said second support secured at its one end to one end of said first named support, a third coil support disposed beyond said ends of said first and second supports, and a coil support rotatable within said second and third supports, the winding surfaces of said first, second and third supports having a common axis.

Q9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hollow coil support, a second support having a spherical Winding surface, said second supportdisposed within said first support and secured thereto, a third winding support disposed beyond the ends of said first and second supports and havin a spherical winding surface co-axial witi said first named spherical winding surface, and a coil support having a spherical winding surface rotatable within said second and third supports.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 25th day of October,

ARTHUR ATWATER KENT. 

